Brussels. November 29. For the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, NATO will hold annual cyber defense exercises with the full physical presence of participants, Major General Philip Stewart, a representative of the alliance's military command in Europe, said on Wednesday.
Cyber Coalition 21 - the largest annual NATO cyber defense exercises organized by the Supreme High Command for Transformation will be held from November 29 to December 3, 2021.
The NATO press release notes that the exercises "are designed to improve cooperation in cyberspace, enhance the Alliance's ability to conduct operations and contribute to the transformation of NATO's cyberspace."
Their goal is to unite a cyber coalition of NATO command structures, allied states and partner countries to strengthen the Alliance's ability to counter threats in cyberspace and thereby support the solution of NATO's core tasks.
These exercises test the decision-making process, technical and operational procedures, interaction, as well as the cyber defense capabilities of NATO and national electronic systems.
Despite the problems of conducting multinational exercises during the COVID-19 pandemic, the press release notes, 30 NATO countries and 4 partner states (Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden and Finland), as well as a trained audience from state-owned industrial enterprises, scientific institutions and individual national cyber defense structures will take part in them.
Two countries (Switzerland and Canada) will participate as observers. In total, about 1000 participants are expected.
